HE'S STILL WORKING ON ME...IN MY FAMILY...

There are a whole lot of things to do for family fellowship! In this age of technology there is emailing, Facebook, blogging, chatting, Skype, cell phones, texting... I have connected with my immediate family in most of these ways over the last few weeks.
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After landing in Chicago, Crystal and I met Jordan and Jacqueline at curbside. They opened the car door to allow me my first experience of seeing Chloe, my first grandchild, with my own eyes. Time for a cell phone pic...

Once arriving back at the apartment, Crystal and I got to share the Gigi and Auntie fun... holding Chloe.

Of course, Daddy Jordan was already an expert at Chloe holding.

There was alot of time for Mommy Jacqueline to show Chloe off after church services on Sunday.

On Tuesday, Crystal and I flew home via the Philly airport... Crystal will be the youth intern this summer at the Pitman church of Christ and I will be supervising student teachers AND teaching our Tuesday ladies Bible class...(stay tuned)...

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Holding, rocking, picture taking, singing, worshipping, cooing, memories, eating together, traveling together....SWEET FAMILY FELLOWSHIP...

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While Crystal and I were in Chicago, I saw some FB posts of my South Jersey friends about needing to find gopher wood to build an ark. The rain just kept coming and coming... pouring and pouring... In fact, upon returning home, it was still hard to find a window of time when it wasn't dumping raining or too wet to mow. When Steve finally mowed, this is what it looked like in mid-mow....seriously...that was some TALLLLL grass.... I got in the act and helped push the mower, too...

Working together...SWEET FAMILY FELLOWSHIP....

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Yes, our family has a history of some interesting family trips. This week has been no different. I was scheduled to make a presentation at a school workshop north of NYC about the Structure of Intellect and Gifted Education. The motel and meals were paid for and since I have been having trouble with my leg, Steve drove even though he himself was not feeling well at the time. Praise God for wonderful loving, serving, self-sacrificing husbands. On the way there, we talked about my presentation and he helped me brainstorm some great additional ideas.

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We made the quick trip with several unforgetable memories and beautiful scenery!!! Traveling together, serving, loving, singing, reading scripture, praying together, disagreeing, arguing, forgiving....SWEET FAMILY FELLOWSHIP...

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I took this rare photo, at a point of little traffic, as we traveled home - south...towards Jersey.

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Right after crossing the New Jersey border, we saw the sign to a familiar town and decided to turn off. Lincoln Park, New Jersey is where Dalen, my sister Pam's husband, was raised. Once we got into town, Steve called Dalen's Springfield, MO cell phone # to tell him where we were and get directions to the old home place.

Dalen was thrilled! Steve stayed on the phone with him as I went around outside taking pics with my cell phone. Here is the old home place... then, across the street stands the church building where Dalen's dad preached for 35 years....

Across the side parking lot, I saw a cross set up in a meditative type setting...


A meditation path and stairs...
While I was enjoying the scenery, I did not realize that Steve had gone inside the building. He remained on the phone with Dalen as Dalen gave him a guided tour, even pointing out where secret doors/passages used to be.

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A group of women, who meet each Wednesday for prayer, were praying. When Steve did introduce himself, they were thrilled that he was on the phone with Dalen. Steve handed his phone to Mary so she could talk to Dalen. The women said that Dalen's family was "legend" in their congregation. Mary had so many wonderful things to say about Dalen. They talked about "the good old days".

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As we walked out the back door, I asked Mary if I could get a picture of her and I together...

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Connecting with a loved one, re-connecting with the past...seeing women on the edge of NYC meet for prayer...knowing that stopping in Lincoln Park and choosing to make a phone call to Dalen was an encouragement to him...

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...A cell phone call, pics by telephone, sharing memories... SWEET FAMILY FELLOWSHIP!!!!

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Oh, the wonders of technology...

Use them to bless your family!!!!

And, make sure while you're blessing,

that God is growing and transforming you!

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Steve and I are on the road again today - seperately. Steve is the speaker this weekend at a men's retreat at Camp Manatawny, on the other side of Philly. A number of men from Pitman are headed that way. They'll spend the night in cabins.

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A number of women from Pitman will join me to travel to Bridgewater, NJ. We'll eat out tonight, shop, and stay at the Marriott. (sorry guys!) Then, the LORD willing, tomorrow I'll be one of the speakers at a ladies day sponsored by the Bridgewater church using the book of Esther as the theme. Steve and I are both in store for some SWEET FAMILY FELLOWSHIP!